Packing box



G. L.. SMITH PACKING Box Sept. 26, 1944.

Filed NOV. 2 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheetrl septgzs, 1944. a SWTH 2,358,943

PACKING BOX Filed Nov. 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

f 91 WWW Patented Sept. 26, 1944 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE PACKINGBOX George Leslie Smith, Rock Island, lll. Application November 25,1940, Serial No. 366,940

9 Claims. (Cl. 229-438) This invention has to do with a shippingcontainer or the like and relates more particularly to improvements in acover and fastening means for securing the same in spaced relation withrespect to an access opening. The invention further contemplates a novelreinforced wall structure cooperation with said fastening means inmaintaining the cover in place.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a new packing boxor container that is especially suited for the packing of shrinkablemerchandise such as apples in a manner that when the merchandise is ondisplay subsequently to such shrinkage the edge about the containeraccessopening will be no higher than the exposed surface of themerchandise, and thus avoid the appearance of short measure.l

A further object of the present invention is the provision of animproved box of which the cover member for the access opening isprovided with securing flaps insertable into apertures in side walls ofthe box when the cover member is in place, and spacer means forpredeterminedly positioning the cover member axially outwardly of suchopening.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a packingbox as the above that is adapted to be formed from a single blank ofsheet material, and ofa novel blank shaped and scored to facilitatebending of the same into the formation of such box.

Other desirable objects encompassed by and inherent to the presentinvention will later appear.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view oi' a. blank foldable to form a box embodying oneform of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a box made by folding the blank shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a side wall of thebox and taken substantially upon the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken through the box during thefilling process and illustrating the box while inverted;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view showing the box with its covermember turned backwardly for uncovering the access opening andillustrating the degree to which the box may be filled subsequently tothe shrinking of its contents;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modiiied form of box, there being acorner section cut away to clearly show the structure;

Fig. 7 is a. fragmentary view taken on the line 1--1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a third box coni structed according tothe present invention; and

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a separate cover member which is a part of theassembly shown in forming an end side wall of the box. This wall section20 is bounded by score lines 2i, 22 and 23 and contains a hand holeopening 24. Adjacently to the end wall section 20 and separatedtherefrom by the fold line 22 is a front side wall section 25 which isalso bound by fold lines 26, 21 and 28. Another end side wall section,29, is bounded by said fold line 21 and fold lines 3U, 3l and 32,whereas a back side wall section 33 is bounded by said fold line 3i andfold lines 34 and 35. A hand hole opening 3B is provided in the wallsection 29 and ventilation holes 3l are provided in the back wallsection 33.

In assembling the box the side wall sections 20, 25, 29 and 33 will befolded about the fold lines 22, 21 and 3i at right angles to each otherto eiect a rectangular enclosure pursuant to which the outer edge 38 ofthe section 2li and the outer edge 39 of the section 33 will be disposedcontiguously. Thereupon an adhesive strip 40, Fig. 2, will be appliedmutually along the marginal portions of these edges 38 and 39 to retainthe blank in the thus far assembled condition.

Reinforcing flaps 42, 43 and 44 are next bent over inwardly of theirrespective sections or side walls 20, 25 and 29 about the fold lines 23,28 and 32 and thence downwardly about fold lines 45, 46 and 4l inadjacent parallelism with their respective side walls. This part of theassembly is illustrated by the reinforcing flap 42 in Fig. 3 where it isshown bent inwardly of the wall 20 about the fold line 23 and thencedownwardly about the fold line 45 alongside oi' and parallel with saidwall 20. The reinforcing flaps 42 and 44 are first bent inwardly anddownwardly and thereafter lthe reinforcing ilap 43 upon the front wall45 is bent inwardly and downwardly. there being sections cut away fromthe ends 45 and 49 of the flap 43 to permit this flap to clear theinwardly disposed flaps 42 and 44; see Figs. 1 and 2. Elongatedapertures 50, and 52 are provided in the blank so that the upper edgesof the walls 20, 25 and 29 canreceive cover closure flaps presently tobe described.

A cover section or member 4|, separated from the back wall .33 by thefold line 35, is provided with three closure flaps 53, 54 and 55 whichare separated from said cover member by fold lines 55, 51 and 58. Eachof the closure flaps has associated therewith a pair of shouldersections 59 which also depend from the cover member at the fold lines56, 51 or 58. This cover member 4| is arranged in closing relation withrespect to the access opening 60 of the box by bending. it forwardlyabout the fold line 35 while the securing naps 53, 54 and 55 are bentinwardly 90 degrees about their respective fold lines 56, 51 and 55wherefore these closure ilaps are projected respectively into theapertures 52, 5I and 50. The distance the closure flaps are projectedinto said wall apertures is limited by the shoulder or tablike sections59. It will be noted in Figs. 1 and 2 that the upper edge of the wall 33projects slightly above the upper edges of the walls 20, 25 and 29, andthe amount of this marginal projection of the back wall is equal to thedistance between the outer edges of the shoulders or tabs 58 and theirrpective fold lines 56, 51 and 58 so that when the cover member 4| is inclosing relation with the access opening 60, said member will beperpendicular to each of the side walls 20, 25, 29 and 25 and said covermember will be selectively spaced axially outwardly of said accessopening. Retaining strips 65 are adhesively applied commonly to thecover member, to the exposed portions of the closure tabs and to the boxside walls to secure the cover member in place.

The thus far assembled box will be arranged in the inverted position asillustrated in Fig. 4 with the bottom flaps 6|, 62, 63 and 64 projectingupwardly preparatory to filling. When the box is to be packed withrelatively large articles 66 such as apples the custom may be followedof placing upon the inverted cover member 4| a layer oi' articles ofuniform size and shape and placing the remainder on top of this layer.And after the box has been loaded sufficiently for the upper surface tolevel oil' substantially with the now upwardly disposed lower edges ofthe side walls as illustrated in Fig. 4 the flaps 6|, 62, 63 and 64 arefolded over about their respective fold lines in the usual manner foreffecting a bottom wall 5l; see Fig. 5. The flaps 6| and 63 are foldedover first and then the flaps 62 and 64 are folded over against theouter sides of the flaps 6i and 63 whereupon an adhesive strip 69 isapplied along the outer and adjacent marginal edges of said strips 62and 64 and over the end walls of the box as illustrated in Figs. 2 and5.

It will be seen that in the finished package the contents will beenclosed firmly between the side walls and between the bottom wall 68and the cover member 4|. Because of the added support provided for theside walls by the reinforcing flaps 42, 43 and 44 the box offersconsiderable resistance to the force due to the weight of the contents.During shipment and storagel of the lled package the contents may shrinkas illustrated in Fig. 5 where the closed position of the cover member4| is represented by the dotted line 4in. HowF ever. the capacity oi thebox can be made sufficient by gauging the distance of the marginalprojection of the side wall ll upwardly with respect to the other sidewalls and correspondingly gauging the length of the tablike stop members59 with respect to the character and amount of l 4the shrinkage likelyto occur in the contents, so

that subsequent to such shrinkage the level of the contents will besubstantially on the level with the upper edges of the side walls 20, 25and 29. Consequently upon opening of the box as illmlustrated in Fig. 5for display to prospective purchasers the box will avoid the appearanceo! stinted measure.

Handling of the box is facilitated by the hand holes as 24 through whichthe fingers may be inserted for obtaining a firm grasp.

The second form of the invention, shown in Figs. 6 and 7, is made froma. blank substantially like that Just described, and therefore the partsin this second form corresponding to those shown in Figs. 1 to 5inclusive are designated by the same respective reference characterswith a prime added. It will be noticed in this second form of theinvention that the apertures 50' and 5|' are located in the outer partsof the side walls 20' and 25 instead of in the upper edges thereof.

This is also true with respect to an aperture (not shown) in the sidewall 29 and corresponding to the aperture 52. The side walls of the boxshown in Figs. 6 and '7 further diil'er from the first em- 30 bodimentin that the reinforcing flaps 42', 43'

Tab-like stop members 5B' depend from the base portions of the securingflaps 53', 54 and 55 and are separated therefrom by fold lines 15. Atthe time the securing flaps are inserted into their respective aperturesas 56' the tabs 55' will be bent inwardly about the fold lines 10 so asto abut against the upper edges of the side walls as 25' and thuspredeterminedly spaceA the cover member 4| axially outwardly of theaccess opening. Subsequent to this insertion of the securing flaps intotheir side wall apertures,

adhesive strips 65" may Ibe applied jointly to these aps and to the sidewalls and cover member of the box for maintainingr the assembly.Securement of the cover member is also contributed to by the stop tabs59' by bearing against the upper edges of their associated walls.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the bottom and sidewalls, with the exception of the back wal1 33 are formed simi- 5.3larlyv to the corresponding walls of the box shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Theback wall differs only in that it also carries a reinforcing flap 12similar in all respects to the reinforcing flaps as 43' of the secondembodiment and of which a portion is go exposed in Fig. 8. Insofar asthe parts of this box correspond to the parts of the first twoembodiments of the invention they are designated by the same referencecharacters with a double prime added. In this third embodiment the covermember 4|" is made of a separate piece of sheet material of the formshown in Fig. 9. The corners of the cover member 4| are cut diagonallyas indicated at 13, 14, 15 and 16, and securing flaps 53", 54, 55" and11 are separated from the edges of this cover member by fold lines '56,51"', 58" and 18. Said cover member, is assembled with the box sidewalls by bending the aps as 54" downwardly at right angles and insertingthe same downwardly and inwardly through the side wall apertures as 5|.An

aperture (not shown) similar to the aperture Il is provided in the rearwall Il" for the securing flap 11. Shoulders i!" abut against thematerial at the ends of the apertures as and thereby locate the covermember the desired distance axially outwardly of the access opening.

.Adhesive strips 65" may be yapplied to the securing tiaps and to theadjacent sections of the side walls and cover member for maintainingthelcover member in place. Following assembly of the cover member in themanner described the box may be inverted in some such manner asillustrated in Fig. 4 and filled prior to closing its bottom ilaps.While I have herein shown and described but three specific embodiments,it should be understood that the invention extends to otherarrangements,.details and structures falling within the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1..In a box having an access opening, a plurality of side walls havingedges bounding'respective edges of said access opening, at least one oi'said walls having an aperture associated therewith," a cover member iorsaid access opening, said cover member having edges respectivelycorresponding to said wall edges and said cover member being disposablein a closing relation with said opening wherein said cover member andall of its said edges are spaced axially outwardly of said opening ashort distance to provide an inspection space about the edge oi suchopening, a closure flap at the edge of said cover member correspondingto the edge of said apertured wall and having stop means thereon, saidclosure flap being insertable through said aperture when the eovermember is in'said closing relation with the access opening, and saidstop means being abuttable with the wall at an edge of said aperture tolimit the ldistance the ilap extends thereinto and to predetermine saidaxial spacing of the cover member from said edge of said wall.

2. In a box having an access opening, a plurality of side walls havingedges bounding respective edges of said access opening, there beingelongated apertures respectively within said walls and arrangedsubstantially parallel with said wall edges, a cover member for saidaccess openlng', said cover member having edges respectivelycorresponding to said wall edges and said cover member being disposablein a closing relation with said opening wherein it and all of its saidedges are spaced axially outwardly of said opening a short distance toprovide an inspection space about the edge of such opening,closureilaps'on said cover member, stop means on said closure flaps,said iiaps being respectively insertable through said apertures when thecover member is in said closing relation with the access opening, andsaid stop means being abuttable against portions of said walls to limitthe extension of. the flaps through said apertures and to predeterminesaidaxial spacing of the cover member from said wall edges.

3. In a box having an access opening, a plurality of side walls havingedges bounding re- ,spective .sides of said opening, one of said sidewalls projecting outward axially of such opening more distantly than theother of said walls, certain oi' said other walls each being providedwith an aperture, a cover member for said access opening and comprisinga ilap connected with said one side wall and separated therefrom by ascore line coinciding with said outwardly projecting edge, said covermember also including closure in such closing relation said vmember isspaced from the edges of said other walls axially of said opening adistance substantially equal to the additional axial distance said edgeof the one wall is projected with respect to said edges of the otherwalls.

4. In a box having an access opening, a plurality of side walls havingedgesbounding respective sides of said opening, one of said side wallsprojecting axially outwardly o1' said opening a marginal distance withrespect to such edges of the other walls, certain'of said other wallshaving apertures respectively therein, a

cover member comprising a flap connected with said one wall andseparated therefrom by a told line coinciding with said projecting edge,closure ilaps depending from certain edges of said cover*v member andincluding shoulders, said closure iiaps being insertable respectivelyinto said apertures when said cover member is in the closing positionover the access opening, and said shoulders being abuttable against thebody of said walls immediately about said apertures to determine suchclosing position as one in which the cover member is spaced from saidedges of said other walls a distance axially outwardly of said accessopening substantially equal to said marginal distance.

5. In a. box having an access opening, a plurality of side walls havingedges bounding respective sides of said opening, one oi' said side wallsprojecting axially outwardly of said open-v ing a marginal distance withrespect to such edges of the other walls, certain of said other wallshaving apertures respectively therein, a

cover member comprising a ilap connected with said one wall andseparated therefrom by a fold line coinciding with said projecting edge,closure ilaps depending from certain edges of said cover member andioldable substantially normally thereto, spacertabs upon said closureilaps and foldable normally to their respective iiaps into positionswherein they are also normal to said cover member when the ilaps arefolded normally to such member, said closure iiaps being insertablerespectively into said apertures when the cover member is in the closingposition over the access opening, and said tabs while folded asaforesaid and while the closure flaps are so lnserted beingabuttableagainst the said edges of said certain walls to determine suchclosing position of the cover member as one in which it is spaced fromsaid edges of said other walls a distance axially outwardly of theaccess opening substantially equal to said marginal distance.

6. In a box having an access opening, a plurality of side walls havingedges bounding respective edges of said access opening, a plurality ofsaid side walls having apertures respectively therein, a cover memberfor said access opening but completely separate from and comprising nodepending part of any of said walls, said cover member being disposablein a closing relation with said access opening wherein said cover memberis spaced a short distance axially outd jassaaie wardly oi' said openingto provide an inspection space about the edge of such opening, closurenaps on said cover member respectively corresponding to said side wallapertures and having stop means respectively thereon, said closure ilapsbeing insertable through their respective side wall apertures when thecover member is in said closing relation 'with the access opening, andsaid stop means being abuttable against respective portions of said sideWalls to limit the distance their naps extend into said apertures and topredeterminedly space said cover member axially outwardly from saidopening while in said closing relation therewith.

7. In a box having an access opening, a plurality of side walls havingedges bounding respective edges of said access opening, certain of saidwalls having an aperture associated therewith, a cover` member for saidaccess opening and disposable in a closed relation therewith whereinsaid cover member is spaced a short dis-' tance axially outwardly of theopening within a plane substantially parallel with the plane of saidopening, said cover member having wall edge portions respectively inspaced registration with the apertured walls axially of the openingWhile in said closed relation and intermediate edge portionsconcurrently also spaced axially outwardly of the opening to expediteinspection of the box contents, closure flaps pivotally depending fromsaid wall edge portions of the cover member for insertion into theapertures to retain the cover member in the closing relation, stop meanson said flaps, said iiaps being pivotal substantially perpendicularly tothe cover member for insertion through said apertures when the covermember is in said closing relation, and said stop means being pivotalwith the naps into position for abutment against portions of said wallsto limit the distance the naps extend into said apertures and therebypredetermine the spacing of the cover member axially of the opening.

8. In a box having an access opening, a plurality of side Walls havingedges bounding respective edges of said access openingfcertain oi' saidwalls having an aperture associated therewith, a cover member for saidaccess opening. and disposable in a closed relation therewith whereinsaid cover member is spaced a short distance axially outwardly of theopening within a plane substantially parallel with the plane of saidopening, said covermember having wall edge portions respectively inspaced registration with the apertured walls axially o! the openingwhile in said closed relation and intermediate edge portionsconcurrently also spaced axially outwardly of the opening and radiallyinwardly thereof to expedite inspection of the box contents, closurenaps pivotally depending from said wall edge portions oi' the covermember for insertion into the apertures to retain the cover member inthe closing relation, stop means in the form of abutment surfaces onsaid flaps and spaced from said cover member a predetermined distance,said naps being pivotal substantially perpendicularly to the covermember for insertion through said apertures when the cover member is insaid closing relation, and said stop means being pivotable with saidflaps into position for abutment against portions of said walls to limitthe distance the flaps extend into said apertures, said abuttingsurfaces, in said closing relation for the cover member, being spacedless distantly from the top of the walls than said predetermineddlstance, to thereby predetermine the spacing of said cover memberaxially of the opening.

9. In a box having an access opening, a plurality of side walls havingedges bounding respective edges of said access opening, reinforcingflaps upon said edges of certain of said walls and bent inwardly of thebox in adjacent parallelism with their respective walls, said certainwalls hav ing apertures therein communicating with the spaces betweensaid walls and their reinforcing flaps, a cover member for said box,said cover member having edges respectively corresponding to said sidewall edges and said cover member being disposable in a closing relationwith said opening wherein it and its edges are spaced axially outwardlyof the opening a short distance to provide an inspection space about theedge of such opening, said cover member including closure naps upon itsedges corresponding to the apertured wall edges and insertable throughsaid apertures into said spaces when the cover member is in said closingrelation with said opening, and tab-like stop means on said closureilaps and spaced from said cover member for abutment with said aperturedwalls to predeterminedly space the cover member from said wall edgesaxially of the opening and thereby support the same in said closingrelation while said stop means are spaced more distantly from the covermember than from the wall edges.

GEORGE LESLIE SMITH.

